Contact Us
Please get in touch for more information regarding placements and referrals as well as availability.
Keyworking & Mentoring
Students are given realistic interpersonal and academic targets which are in line with placing authorities expectations. Termly reviews for targets, attendance and behaviour are in place to allow for regular supervision, tracking of progress and intervention if required. Mentor chats allow for students to have private conversations with staff about any issues they may have as well as allowing staff to pull students to one side to re-enforce personal targets or expectations.
Full inclusion, regardless of ability
Tailored packages allow for placing authorities to agree on a bespoke experience for young people who attend the project. Staff are trained to meet the needs for those young people who have ASD, ADHD, SEMH, Learning Difficulties, Communication Difficulties, Sensory and Physical issues as well as a range of other overlapping traits.
Projects are delivered in a differentiated way, facilitating individualized progression within a social group setting; inclusive group work promotes tolerance of others, understanding, empathy and togetherness regardless of physical or cognitive ability.
Qualified, DBS checked & high staffing ratios:
– All staff and volunteers are DBS checked and the company is fully compliant with current safeguarding practices and procedures for KCSIE (Keeping Children Safe In Education).
– High staff ratios allow for small groups (Level 2) and higher need learners (Level 1).
AimVoc Accreditation
To supplement schooling efforts the provision also offers qualifications to help give young people the best possible chance of moving into further education or employment. Timetabled sessions facilitate accreditation in AimVoc Animal Care Industries (Entry 3, Level 1 & 2). This qualification can help young people progess into further education, such as Broomfield College, Derby doing an animal related qualification.
Accreditation and success largely depend on student attendance, willingness to learn and engagement. Tutors will monitor progression and provide additional support such as 1:1 or extra learning time to ensure young people manage to complete their qualifications while reporting to placing authorities with any concerns regarding achievement.
GCSE Facilitation
We appreciate that not all young people thrive in a mainstream schooling environment, and this maybe intimidating for some. Some learners feel safe enough at the farm to strive towards GCSE accreditation; we can provide a safe and private place for tutors to work with students and achieve their potential.
Personal Development & Independence
The development of a young person’s understanding of the wider world, social norms, emotional well-being and respectful behaviour is the responsibility of teachers, parents and carers.
At The Island Project we deliver a range of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) sessions which are adapted to maximize learning for learners. SMSC is embedded into almost everything we already do, teaching empathy, right from wrong and social appropriateness is a priority in all sessions; we also deliver specific SMSC sessions on a wide range of topics such as safer internet day, world environment day, animal assisted therapy, global issues and emergency services to name just a few.
Therapeutic Farming Learning Environment & Outdoor Sessions
The mental, physical and emotional benefits of working in nature are profound. Our 3 acre small holding provides young people the opportunity to express themselves and be celebrated in a relaxed and peaceful environment. Sessions for the most part are outdoors, interacting with peers and animals; working outdoors provides learners the opportunity to learn in an alternative and usually more engaging way. Site maintenance tasks alongside woodworking hand skills are also areas that are utilized at the farm which supplement our animal welfare efforts and help keep the farm maintained, while providing hands on practical work for young people to engage with.
Animal Care & Welfare
Animal interaction is where our heart lies as a service and makes up a large part of the sessions we offer. Animal housing is cleaned and maintained, animals are also fed, trained and petted on a daily basis which we dub as ‘animal care’. More specialized sessions such as ‘vet club’ and ‘animal training’ allow learners more in depth and hands on opportunity to work with our animals and build strong relationships with them. Additionally we incorporate an ‘animal TLC program’ into all animal related sessions which utilizes techniques from animal assisted therapy (AAT), that is utilizing animals as a tool for improved outcomes and learning opportunities. AAT allows young people to develop interpersonal skills, motivation and confidence.
KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4 & Post 16:
The Island Project can provide placements for young people aged 9-18. As part of our service we differentiate all sessions to be adapted to each person so that everyone can learn at a level which is appropriate for them. Learners can achieve qualifications in AimVoc and Funcation Skills (Please see qualifications above) and can progress into a Post 16 placement where appropriate and achieve Level 2 qualifications.
Groups are mixed between all ages with staff keeping a close eye on positive role modelling and appropriate group dynamics. Where possible appropriate groups are gently created to enhance learning opportunities and relationships among peers, such as Post 16 small groups or board games for younger learners; however most sessions are inclusive regardless of age or ability.
Woodwork, Gardening & Site Maintenance:
Because the service is a small farm, naturally woodworking, gardening and site maintenance are a huge part of what we offer. Learners have the opportunity to regularly participant in constructing animal pens, fixing damaged items such as gates or animal accommodation as well as making gardening planters. Planters that are made by students are often sold at community events, helping to sustain the woodwork and gardening process, which students enjoy being part of while learning woodworking hand skills.
Gardening provides young people with the opportunity of connecting back with and learning about where food comes from, how vegetables grow and how to care for them. Young people will develop knowledge which could lead to a healthier lifestyle as well as learning about wildlife, environmental issues and being resourceful with materials at hand.